Cozy review of S.L Rowland’s “The Halfling’s Harvest.”

I finished listening to this a few days ago and have to say, S.L. Rowland’s “The Halfling’s Harvest” tickled all the bellies.

The story follows halfling and vineyard owner, Marigold Bramblefoot, a blue-haired visiting gnome named Poppy, and Marigold’s ever-present, often aggressive competition with a neighboring vineyard for the top spot in the annual Harvest Festival Wine Tasting competition.

In this story, you get loads of heart, Marigold’s nostalgia for the way her father ran things, and great characterizations from her tough-skinned, elven farm helper, her gruff Dwarven cook, a visiting wizard that feels just like Gandalf, were Gandalf to travel with a self-piloted carriage coach. There are pies and pumpkins and apple picking, healing priests, gnomish inventions, and a vibrant small-town feel that made me think I was either in the Shire or perhaps Nantucket Town (minus the beaches and ocean).

The narrators are wonderful. SL Rowland has captured the lived-in, family-centered, slice-of-life story in shop-based cozy fantasy without losing sight of the fact that stories need stakes and plots. I may listen to it again.

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

My rating: 5/5 for the story. 5/5 for the audiobook. Available on Amazon.